Gods

The Gods are a race in the Dark Souls series, and one of the primary 'races' in the story.

Lore

The "gods" are the members of the clan of Gwyn, one of the four Lords that found the Lord Souls after the First Flame appeared. They are part of a precise biological race, distinct from human beings. For this reason the offspring of their relationships with humans present specific traits that allow them to be recognized as descendants of the gods even generations later. These dominant phenotypes can be identified in individuals who have a slender build, elongated limbs, together with pale skin and faces with specific features.

Gwyn led the gods and their Silver Knights in a war against the Dragons. With their powerful magic and the aid of the Dragon traitor, Seath the Scaleless, the Gods slew most of the Dragons and claimed the world for their own. Gwyn and his family founded the mighty city of Anor Londo, from whence they ruled over the humans, distant descendants of the Furtive Pygmy.

Gwyn derived the bulk of his power and influence from the First Flame, which he shared with the other gods, but in time the Flame began to die. To preserve their influence over the world, Gwyn sacrificed himself by entering the Kiln of the First Flame, where his strength would keep the Flame alive.

Plot

Dark Souls

After Lord Gwyn entered the Kiln of the First Flame, most of the gods abandoned Anor Londo, leaving behind a small army of Silver Knights and two elite knights: Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough, to protect the city. Much more shady was the role of Gwyndolin, the only true God that remained in Anor Londo. He created an illusion of Gwynevere, Lord Gwyn's daughter, to hide the fact that she had left Anor Londo and married the Flame God, Flann. Gwyndolin has the same goal as Kingseeker Frampt, using the illusion of Gwynevere to convince the Chosen Undead to rekindle the First Flame. Gwyndolin seems to survive the events of Dark Souls as he is being consumed by Aldrich, Devourer of Gods in Dark Souls III, implying that the Chosen Undead either did not fight him or only defeated an illusion of him in the timeline canon to the latter game.

Dark Souls II

The gods are mostly forgotten by this point in time, with their names unknown, though there remains the ruins of old cities who once worshiped the old gods. The souls of the three Lords are said to have been reborn and try to influence the world despite being mere fragments.

Dark Souls III

Even after the awakening of the Ashen One, the influence of several gods or their descendants is still present in the world.

Dark Sun Gwyndolin, once the king of the gods and of Irithyll, had been imprisoned in the city's old cathedral by Pontiff Sulyvahn, that stripped him of his power to rule in his place. However Aldrich, Devourer of Gods had arrived in Irithyll and, after defeating Sulyvahn, he began to devour Gwyndolin. Yorshka, Gwyndolin'sister, is still alive and leads the knights's of the Blade of the Darkmoon covenant, but she has been imprisoned by Sulyvahn in an isolated tower.

Gwynevere, Princess of Sunlight was the Queen of Lothric and conceiving Lorian, Elder Prince and Lothric, Younger Prince, the younger son destined to link the First Flame. However, after Lothric refused to fulfill his duty, King Oceiros became obsessed with the power of dragons . Gwynevere granted his wish for an heir of divine and draconic blood and gave birth to her last children Ocelotte, however she later abandoned the kingdom of Lothric and quietly disappeared .

Filianore, Gwyn's last daughter, still remains in the Ringed City, asleep to keep the city outside the flow of time and space. Shira, Knight of Filianore, daughter of Seath, continues to remain at her side, defending the princess's sleep and maintaining control over the noble Pygmy family

Caitha, Goddess of Tears's cult survived from the land of Drangleic and she became the central deity of the Way of White, which settled in Carim. Morne, her favorite follower, became the apostle of the Archbishop of Carim and his influence spread, creating miracles dedicated to Caitha and leading the knights of Carim to adopt his armor and weapons. However, the clerics of Carim also began using talismans that employed intelligence and cast dark miracles and freely devoted themselves to the creation of forbidden rings, implying that the goddess leaves a lot of freedom for her clerics to investigate the Dark. Despite this, Caitha continues to be dedicated to bringing comfort to suffering humans, and the forlorns revere her as their protector .

Lord Deities

Powerful beings who found a immense soul in the First Flame at the beginning of time and used it to exert their influence on the world.

• Gwyn, God of Sunlight, who claimed a Lord Soul, conquered the world after defeating the Dragons and ruled it as king of the gods
• The Witch of Izalith, who claimed a Lord Soul, later transformed into the Bed of Chaos and birthplace of Demons.
• Nito the First of the Dead, who claimed a Lord Soul and oversaw the death of all things.
• The Furtive Pygmy, who claimed the Dark Soul which then was split to create humanity.

Gods and Goddesses of Anor Londo

Powerful beings who are part of Gwyn's clan and are revered by men as deities.

• Gwyn's Firstborn, God of War and once Gwyn's heir, but now merely a nameless king.
• Gwynevere, Goddess of Sunlight and eldest daughter of Gwyn, wife to Flame God Flann and later Oceiros, the Consumed King.
• Gwyndolin, God of Darkmoon and lastborn son of Gwyn. After Lloyd was exposed as a fraud he claimed the title of king of the gods.
• Filianore, lastborn daughter of Gwyn, asleep in the Ringed City.
• Lloyd, Gwyn's uncle and God of Law and Caste. After Gwyn linked the Flame he self-proclaimed himself "Allfather" and took control of the Way of White.
• Velka, Goddess of Sin, tasked with defining sins and meting out the punishment for humans.
• Seath, ancient dragon that became the son-in-law of Gwyn through marriage with one of her daughters and later created the modern version of sorcery.
• Havel, battlefield compatriot of Gwyn that inspired many warriors.
• Flann, God of Flame and later husband of Gwynevere.
• McLoyf, God of Medicine and Drink.
• Fina, goddess who possesses fateful beauty but whose embracing love is as fickle as the weather.
• Nameless Blacksmith Deity, deceased smith of the gods, whose death formed the Titanite Demons.

Irithyllians and Descendants of Gods

Beings who descend from the gods of Gwyn's clan and their multiple relationships with other gods or humans.

• Dancer of the Boreal Valley, direct descendant of Gwynevere.
• Rosaria, Mother of Rebirth, direct descendant of Gwynevere.
• Gertrude, daugter of Gwynevere.
• Lorian, Elder Prince and Lothric, Younger Prince, sons of Gwynevere and Oceiros.
• Ocelotte, last child of Gwynevere and Oceiros.
• Shira, Knight of Filianore, daughter of Seath and one of Gwyn's daughters and protector of Filianore's sleep.
• Priscilla, daughter of Seath but considered an abomination and isolated in the cold Painted World of Ariamis.
• Yorshka, sister of Gwyndolin.
• Aldrich, once a cleric from Irythyll and later Lord of Cinder and "Saint of the Deep".
• McDonnel, high cleric from Irithyll that later joined the Cathedral of the Deep.
• Vordt, outrider knight from Irithyll.

Gods of Drangleic

Deities of uncertain origin, potentially connected to the ancient gods of Anor Londo or powerful humans made divine by legend and myth.

• Caitha, Goddess of Tears who mourns the undeserving dead, and the loved ones left behind. Her cult survived for ages and became central in the renewed Way of White.
• Faraam, God of War worshipped by the Lion Knights of Forossa.
• Galib, God of Disease worshipped by the Leydia Witches.
• Kremmel, God of Struggle who awards the perseverance of others.
• Quella, Goddess of Dreams who guards the dreamworld.
• Nahr Alma, God of Blood whose followers are obsessed with violence.
• Caffrey, God of Fortune.
• Zinder, God of Desire.
• Zandroe, Gods of Greed.
• Hanleth, Goddess of Bliss.
• Nehma, Goddess of Love.
• Evlana, Goddess of the Hunt, originally a skilled huntress that became deified with the passing of lore.

Trivia

• Gwyn's wife, and mother of his first children, is not mentioned.
• It is unknown if the size of the illusion of Gwynevere is accurate.
• Gods are not to be confused with Lords. In this context, Lord is the title given to beings who possess a Lord Soul, while the gods were a race, similar to humans and giants.